What's the most improbable but true thing about you?
I once took disco dance lessons. They didn’t take. And that’s all I’ll say on that subject!

Why did you choose to submit to Horror Over the Handlebars?
The coming-of-age genre is my favorite, both to read and to write. Many of my stories have that nostalgic feel, so when I saw the open call, how could I resist?

Tell us a little about your story, “Out There” and its genesis.
I really enjoy the “creepy kid” vibe found in some stories and wanted to try to create that feeling. The Horror Over the Handlebars open call really got me thinking. I wanted the story to have all the appropriate themes – adventurous kids, friendship, crushes – but also weave something very uncanny into it. I hope I’ve succeeded!

Tell us about “The Crimson Staircase of Tryethelone” in Horror Over the Handlebars and what you liked about it.
The Crimson Staircase perfectly captures the sense of ‘other’ that many teenagers feel. The main character, Goldie, feels like nobody likes her and is bullied by her peers. Even her parents don’t seem to understand her plight. Margret puts a delicious twist ending in place, I had no idea what was coming!

If you could time travel, where would you go, what would you do, and why would you do that?
This is a tough one. I am enthralled with the Old West, but I think going back there might cure me of that. It was a tough, dirty time. I don’t think I’d fit in. So, 1950s America would probably be my choice. The simplicity of life, the music, the cars…yeah, that would be cool.

Who would you bring back from the dead for one hour and what would you do with them?
I know this is going to sound cliché, but it would be my dad. We had a very nonexistent relationship and growing up, I never understood why he was the way he was. As an adult, I get it. I’d just like to talk to him for that one hour.

What's your favorite piece of art? Could be music, writing, sculpture, painting...
This is almost impossible to answer! Bruce Springsteen’s “Backstreets” may be my favorite song of all time. The passion in his performance, the lyrics, the music…amazing. But…Springsteen’s line in “Jungleland” is my favorite lyric of all time: “Barefoot girl sitting on the hood of a Dodge drinking warm beer in the soft summer rain.” Damn, that’s perfect. And also feels very coming-of-age, right.
For movies, as much as I adore Carpenter’s 1978 Halloween, I think Jaws is the only perfect movie ever made. Not a single cast member could have been changed, not a single line of dialogue, not a single camera angle.
To Kill a Mockingbird is my favorite book, followed closely by King’s It.

What are you most proud of creating?
Right now, Haven. Not because it won the Stoker but for everything it represents to me, personally. It was a long road from beginning to end and I think I captured exactly what I was shooting for with the story.

What's next on your literary horizon?
I’ve got a lot going on! My western horror novella, A Blade to Silence the Screams, comes out from Cemetery Dance in November. The sequel to Eternal Darkness will also be out by the end of the year. I’m currently working on a novella for a project that will be a six-novella collection from six different authors. Finally, the second book in The Clearing series is complete but that won’t be out until 2025.

Where can readers connect with you online?
The easiest place to find me is at my website, (www.tomdeady.com). You can sign up for my monthly newsletter there and connect with me on all the usual social media platforms.